Northland avocado growers supplied 1.1 million trays of fruit for export in 2017/18 and while that was 27 percent down on the previous year, it was the largest regional contribution in New Zealand. Production was significantly lower in the mid-North producing area by a whopping 51 percent, while increasing 3 percent in the Far North. However, Northland's share of total exports rose to 50 percent due to a 65 percent decrease in production in the Bay of Plenty. Assuming the national average ''orchard gate'' return was received, Northland growers earned more than $43 million in 2017/18, down from $53m in 2016/17.
According to www.nzherald.co.nzΒΈ Northland kiwifruit growers supplied Zespri with just under 3.3 million trays of fruit, 5 percent less than the previous year's harvest and 30 percent below the record harvest of 4.7m trays in 2014/15. Northland's share of the national crop rose to 2.7 percent due to a 16 percent fall elsewhere. The reduction in harvest was due to a 23 percent fall in average production per hectare, the lowest level in seven years, while the producing area rose 24 percent. Grower returns fell by 10 percent from $43 million to $38m, the average revenue before costs rising 20 percent to just over $13.40/tray.
